On Wall Street and Capitol Hill we are faced with a crisis of leadership and, unfortunately, our local 'main street' authorities are not without complicity in these practices. Most notably the criminal lobbying activities of Preston Gates Ellis (Microsoft's Law Firm) and the Enron like financial techniques of Washington Mutual under the control of the law firm of Foster Pepper Shefelman.
And, yeah, I'm suggesting that the corruption of corporate America is the responsibility of the legal profession - a la Elliott Spitzer in NYC and Alberto Gonzales in Washington D.C. - and, in the leadership position Washington Lawyers have taken, working as officers of the 'King County Courts'.
An illustrative case in point - the handling of the DUI case of Republican County Councilmember Jane Hague.
Councilmember Hague was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol shortly prior to the filing deadline for her seat on the Council, early summer 2007. However this fact was not disclosed until well after that filing deadline, effectively insuring her incumbency, through what is arguably criminal fraud.
Acting Prosecutor Dan Satterberg claimed ignorance of the event - which I do believe, but, he also failed to take responsibility for the problem, discipline the negligent prosecutor accountable, nor hold Hague accountable for her threatening behavior to arresting and booking officers.
Here are Satterberg's notes on justifying his actions:
What I don't believe though is that the Deputy Prosecutor, Stepanie Webb (Bar Date of 2004) couldn't be bothered to figure out that Jane Hague Springman was actually an elected official in her county of jurisdiction.
No evidence either that Mr. Satterberg sought to discipline this negligence regarding an elected official of his jurisdiction, and fellow party member. Recall also that a clerk of the district court of Redmond was able to figure this out, once the case had actually been filed. Recall also that King County has been subject to numerous complaints regarding elections problems of a similar magnitude as this - save for the 'lower class' ACORN organizers.
Consider also that the King County Court,as do most, has a very strict implicit practice of establishing second class citizenship before the constitution for those sans representation of one of it's own officers.
These folks are typically portrayed as abusive, ignorant, drug users.
I don't have documentation on the Hague abusive accusations from the booking process, but the arresting officers report - which quotes Hague as saying "This (arrest) is FUCKING ridiculous, don't you have rapists to take off the street?"
But the facts are clear Mr. Satterberg, it is you, your supervisory attorneys, the Judges of King County, most notably those originating in your office or in the office of Christine Gregoire who are the abusive ignorant drug users. Though you claim to be a nice guy and a republican strenghtened by the fires of competiton you, and yours, are nothing but
ABUSIVE UNQUALIFIED DRUG ABUSERS.WHOSE SOLE ABILITY IS TO HARASS THE QUALIFIED AND PROTECT YOUR FELLOW INCOMPETENTS
AMONG THE STANDARD PRACTICES OF THESE COURTS AND THESE OFFICERS IS THE CRIMINAL PRACTICES OF PROSECUTOR NIFONG IN THE DUKE LACROSSE PLAYERS CASE - NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AT ALL, BUT STANDARD OPERATING, AND POLITICAL PROCEDURE
So, be a man, take the punishment your courts have deigned for such transgressions - or, continue to be a lawless scumbag. Personally, I think we should use your case to not just regulate the economic classes created in the courts, but also to further define what constitutes genetic deficiency when it results in abusive behavior. FWIW, I don't think you were abused as a child, and certainly you have had the benefit of the finest education Society has to offer.
Oh, here's a picture of Webb, 'partying' it up on a private boat at Cabo....
P.S.: 12/9/2008 - I've just become aware of a relevant action by the Prosecutor's Office on this matter, regarding the District Court Judge, Peter Nault, who handled the Hague DUI case. This doesn't remove my concerns about accountability within the King County Courthouse, Nault may just be a convenient scapegoat and, really, just an example of the same problems within. Nonetheless, it does show some responsiveness - presumably from others keeping up the pressure.
